Coincided with the Windows 95 operating system release. Works only on Windows 95, NT 3.51 or higher. This is the first Office version to have the same version number (7.0, inherited from Word 6.0) for all major component products (Word, Excel and so on).

Was released only in Japanese and Korean editions. First version to contain Outlook 98 in all editions and Publisher 98 in the Small Business Edition. And also the first version of Office 97 to support Windows 98.

Last version to support Windows 95. Office 2000 is also the last version which does not include Product Activation and is not covered by Office Genuine Advantage, although on individual installs, the Office Update website still required the presence of original install media for updates to install.